About

Rooted in our Past, Growing toward our

Future

Welcome members to a new year of garden club,

As an organization, we were federated in September of 1978 – 44 years ago. When I consider that this organization has a history almost as old as I am, I am astounded. I think back to the events along my life’s journey, many of which I have forgotten; and I realize that I do not want that to be the fate of our club. If we do not talk about, write down, and celebrate our history, we will lose it.

The last recorded history I found in our archives is 2002, and in reading that history, I recognized how much I do not know about our club. With this in mind, I have chosen “Rooted in our Past, Growing toward our Future” as our theme this year. I think it is important to look back, to celebrate the accomplishments of our prior members, both the things that remained and the things that did not.

To support this theme, we’ve made a few adjustments to our normal year. We have added a history section to the yearbook, to give some general background information on the club.  We are adding a history section to our monthly newsletter as well – there may or may not be a game for a door prize on this information .  We will have a history moment at our monthly meetings, with a story or anecdote. We have themed some of our programs and events around history, like heirloom gardening, and the theme of our flower show. Throughout the year, we will recognize the past failures and celebrate the past accomplishments of our club.

But why on earth does it matter what happened long ago? One reason is connection. A club endures because it has longevity and connection.  When we don’t know our own history, how can we appreciate what was done? How can we relate it to what we are doing today? Our club has traditions we have inherited from the past.  The only way to evaluate those traditions, to determine their current relevancy and understand our place in them, is to know their history.

So, take this journey down memory lane with me this year, as we dig in the soil of our past. Let us see what can be gleaned to help us Grow our club for another forty years.

Shannon